Category: Thailand

I lived in Thailand for two years and three months, from 2013 to 2015, where I worked as a Primary Teacher Trainer as a Peace Corps volunteer. You’ll find Thailand travel tips, culture explainers and my personal experiences in these posts.

6 Exotic (and Delicious) Fruits of Thailand

February 21, 2014

When I was in San Francisco for staging, the first couple days of Peace Corps before leaving for whatever country you’ve been assigned to, one of the facilitators said, “Any fruit lovers? You are going to love Thailand. There is so much fresh fruit and so many different kinds.” Having had a year to experience all of the different fruit seasons here, I can tell you for certain, that she was right. Let me give you a short run down of some of the fruits here that are not as widely available in the States. more “6 Exotic (and Delicious) Fruits of Thailand” …

My Peace Corps Service is 50% Complete

February 18, 2014

There have been a flurry of time marking milestones happening over the last couple months. First, there was New Year’s Eve and Day. Next came the one year anniversary of coming to Thailand. Then there was my 26th birthday. Friday was Maka Bucha Day, or the first Thai holiday that I have had a chance to celebrate twice. Finally, Sunday marked the day of the half-way point of my service in Thailand. I have now been in Thailand longer than I have left here. more “My Peace Corps Service is 50% Complete” …

Woman Monk’s Fight for Equality in Thailand

February 16, 2014

A group of Peace Corps volunteers recently held the first Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) camp in Thailand. One of the aims of this camp is to build the confidence and broaden the horizons of girls. The organizers invited a female monk to come and speak to the girls. In Thailand, only men are allowed to be monks, but these women are challenging the status quo. Check out this documentary about them!

Reflecting on My Life on My 26th Birthday

February 11, 2014

This past Saturday was my birthday. I turned 26. I had read about a craft beer party that a beer import company, Beervana, was having in a city not too far from my village, Khon Kaen. So that is what I did; I went and drank delicious Oregon craft beer, ate pizza, drank beer from a brewery in Khon Kaen, and ate bruschetta and potato salad in dill sauce. I stayed at a hotel and took a shower with hot water. It was a good birthday. more “Reflecting on My Life on My 26th Birthday” …

Common Animals in a Thai Village

February 7, 2014

As a Peace Corps volunteer, I live in a rural area. One thing that I think is characteristic of any rural area is the presence of animals and livestock. As I rode my bike past the local herd of cows, that are different from cows in the States, I thought about how different the animals are that I encounter on a near daily basis than the animals that I came in contact with regularly in the States. So, here is a short list and some pictures of the animals that are a part of my life in Thailand. more “Common Animals in a Thai Village” …

Election Day Comes with Some Hiccups

February 4, 2014

It was early December and I was stopped over in Bangkok on my way back to my site after a vacation in the South to go diving and visit Khao Sok. I meet up with another Peace Corps volunteer who was also in the city at the time, and we were wandering around Khao San Road when he got a text. It said the prime minister had resigned and was calling new elections. I soon found out that the date for the elections was set for February 2. On Sunday, the voting was scheduled to be open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

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Comparing Cold Seasons: United States and Thailand

January 31, 2014

The U.S. has been experiencing quite a bit of extreme weather lately. The Polar Vortex is encapsulating swaths of the country and plunging it into sub-zero temperatures. It was even the lead story on a lunchtime news show here in Thailand, with the video showing piles of white powder that my community has never seen in real life and cannot even fathom what such an environment is like. The lady that I always buy pineapple from in the market asked me if it was cold in America, to which I replied, “Ka! Naao mak mak! He-ma dtok leao, loei, ka!” (Yes, very cold, the snow has fallen a lot already!)

more “Comparing Cold Seasons: United States and Thailand” …